Millville outfielder Mike Trout projected to be first-round pick in Major League Baseball draft

Noah Addis/For the Star-LedgerMike Trout, left, has heard all the stories of the ups and downs of pro baseball from his father, Jeff, right, who spent four years in the minors after being drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 1983.

The stories are a part of the family's audio scrapbook, passed down by a scrappy infielder who never made it.

He tells tales of life on the road and playing in front of nobody in the middle of nowhere. He talks about Kirby Puckett and Jose Canseco and how baseball isn't always glorious business.

For as long as he can remember, Jeff Trout has painted an honest picture to test his youngest son's love for the game.

Mike Trout's response: Right, Dad. Okay, Dad. Sure, Dad.

"I hear them twice a day," Mike said with a laugh. "I'm starting to get tired of it."

Jeff, a fifth-round selection by the Minnesota Twins in 1983, toiled in the minor leagues for four years. The father's storytelling isn't likely to stop anytime soon with his son's future in the balance.

Mike Trout has sky-rocketed up the scouts' charts and is a projected first-round pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, which will be held Tuesday and Wednesday. The Millville centerfielder's pedigree isn't lost on Major League decision-makers.

"He has good bloodlines," said one major league scout. "Every organization is different, but that certainly has to be factored in. For us, that goes a long way."

At 6-2, 205 pounds, Trout made a seamless transition from pitcher and shortstop to the outfield last summer when scouts suggested his future would be better out there. His speed and strong arm make him an attractive option for organizations, aware that it will take some time for his bat -- he had a state-record 18 home runs this season -- to catch up.

"There's some now tools: He can run and he can throw," the scout said. "He certainly could walk into the big leagues and run and throw with a lot of the guys that are playing there now. But he couldn't walk into a big league game today and hit or hit with power. It's something that he's going to have to learn."

Trout's work ethic has never been a problem. Whether it's working on switch-hitting in the batting cage or shagging extra fly balls, the 17-year-old's passion for the game is easy to see.

Major league scouts and general managers were witnesses to Trout's desire and skills all season, flocking to Cumberland County to assess his skills. Every team has sent a representative to the family home in Millville.

All eyes were on Trout before, during and after games. He took extra batting practice before games, stayed after wins or losses to swing a few more times and even drove two hours to hold a private session for a general manager.

"A lot of people watching makes me play better," said Trout, who hit .531 with a 1.296 slugging percentage this season. "It makes me want to go out there and show them what I got. I know they're always going to be watching."

It wasn't uncommon to have 25 big-league scouts and general managers watching his every move this spring. The extra attention hasn't fazed Trout, who was named the 2009 Gatorade Player of the Year in New Jersey.

"It's been hectic and very pressure oriented," Jeff Trout said. "He's handling it a lot better than I would. Nothing seems to bother him. He just keeps playing."

The right-handed power hitter broke the state's single-season record with 18 home runs this season. He also holds the school's career marks for home runs, hits, runs, batting average, slugging percentage and stolen bases.

"He's got every skill necessary -- and that includes the intangibles -- to make it," Millville coach Roy Hallenbeck said. "He's as prepared as he can possibly be, but he knows as well as anybody that there are a lot of pitfalls along the way to navigate."

So, his father kept him grounded by presenting two clear choices: professional baseball or college. Mike Trout, who signed with East Carolina, went to college football and basketball games with his dad to get a taste of campus life.

Jeff Trout, a history teacher at Millville for more than two decades, wanted the youngest of his three children to make an intelligent choice.

"I told him that this was what he was going to be missing," said Jeff, who was drafted out of the University of Delaware. "But he's okay with it. He's a pretty independent kid. So I trust he'll be fine on his own."

Trout has already declared he would forego his college scholarship if he's taken in the first round. He will receive around $100,000 in guaranteed money if he's a first-round selection.

"He knows what he's getting into," Jeff Trout said. "It's not going to be easy for him. He knows it's going to be a grind. Believe me. I've drilled it into his head."

Despite the inevitable challenges, the son maintains a single-minded focus.

"He told me every story they got out there," Mike said of his father. "If I have a bad week, I just got to fight through it. In the end, the people that fight through it are the ones that get to the bigs."